2011 - The Year in Review

This hasn't been one of my favorite years, but here's how it was reported on the blog. This is the third annual Regency Cove Whisperings Year in Review.
 
January 2011
The new year began with Happy Days and coupon books. The Friendship Club new year party was again a sellout! The Vegetable Lady was approved set up a stand to sell fruit and vegetables twice a week. Mary Willsey writes her last Friendship Club article in the Outlook, since the presidency has turned over to Alice Disharoon.

Wade Nimon

February 2011
Another Regency Cove Gasparilla celebration  goes off, due to the cooperation of Mike Ross, Ron Jeffries, Chuck Davis (Flotilla) and Cheryl Corbett ( Decorations). The Veteran's anthology is announced in the Outlook, and interviews begin in earnest. Leonard Helbig, Tony Sencich, and Mike Ross begin fabrication of the new cement benches for Sunset Point. Maintenance supervisor Ed Scobee is one of the team, doing a lion's share of the work. A new lawn service for our common areas started this month. (Wade is the most senior veteran in the book)

March 2011
In an unprecedented quorum, the shareholders of Regency Cove vote at the Annual Meeting 251 to 5 to not fully fund the Reserves, after threatened with a fabricated 33% maintenance increase. Elaine Belba, Dennis Hayes, and Rose Reis are elected to the board. The 18 Hole Golf League ended its season with a  banquet. To bid farewell to our Snowbirds, the Friendship Club hosts a Sock Hop and the Yacht Club presented a free dinner dance to its members.
On March 31, a tornado sweeps across Pinellas County, hitting two mobile home parks in Largo, crosses the bay, and hits Tampa just south of Regency Cove. Many folks gathered at the clubhouse, while the TV blared warnings. A nice time was had by all. Thank you, God.


April 2011

The new benches are placed on Sunset Point, and a few volunteers come out to assist. Tony and Mike have hand mixed over a ton of cement, and Sandy and Etel Helbig sand and stain over 500 feet of lumber for slats. A meeting is held at the Platt Library by Bayside West Neighborhood Assn. informing us that Georgetown developers want to be grandfathered in on traffic issues. Only one board member attends, Dennis Kralick. Residents of Regency Cove respond with a Town Hall meeting set up  by director Dennis Kralick for one week later.

May 2011
The infamous Town Hall meeting of May 5 allowed Georgetown officials and attorney to respond to questions of residents. They got an earful! Our board was not prepared to join in our fight against the developer, DeBartolo. Shortly after that, resident Ellen Nimon took the microphone and described the board's historical stand against Gandy Improvements and radical Georgetown development. The people of Regency Cove spoke, but only 2 board members remained to listen to the people.
The Kentucky Derby party was held on May 7. Simultaneously, an impromptu meeting was held at the pavillion on Sunset Point to organize a recall. On May 13, manager Cheri Scobee's employment is terminated by the board of directors, and reported later that day on this blog, and the largest number of comments (33) were posted by residents from all over the country. New manager Dawn Simmons, with 25 years experience, takes the reins a few days later.

June 2011
When the recall ballots arrived by process server at the June board meeting, the president resigned. The results of the recall were 222 for and 31 against. Housekeeping in Regency Cove goes to a new level, sprucing up and painting. The boat storage yard finally receives electric power.

The Beast

July 2011
Father Bob Goodwin bids farewell to Regency Cove. Judy Webb resigns as editor of the Outlook. Employee Richard Gauss leaves Regency Cove for a position at Bright House. His position will not be refilled. The board voted 5 to 3 to approve the $590 permit fee for the kayak ramp on Pelican. No cars are allowed and no parking signs were installed at the turnaround. Hall improvements paid by the Friendship Club are beautiful.
The Beast and I become acquainted at the Cardinal Bernadine Cancer Center radiation dept. in Maywood IL for the next 7 1/2 weeks.


September 2011


Hurricane Irene has smashed and devastated the eastern coast. Folks at home up North are having a worse hurricane season than us down here in Florida. New signs appear on our waterfront. Residents are amazed and curious. Board member Elaine Belba resigns from the board due to her husband's ill health. Although the board has requested and received resumes from the shareholders to fill vacancies, the item is tabled.

Board at work

October 2011
 A survey of residents' opinions is distributed in the October Outlook. One item of note was reducing the size of the board to seven. We still wait to hear the results.




November 2011

Pool repairs take a little longer than expected, but the stairs, railings, and  a whole new surface completes the job. The spa gains its own entrance, an improvement long overdue.

2011 Christmas Decorators

December 2011

Budget meetings are efficiently completed. Commodore Chuck Paramore retires from the Yacht Club, Paul Dillon steps in. A new light appears on the cupola above the Sunset Point pavillion.
Tragedy strikes when fire destroys a home. The quick response of neighbors kept the fire from tragic consequences. Neighbors generously donate money, clothing, and items for their new accommodations.

Happy New Year!